The following is a short biography of Elsie E. Turley Barrett written in the book
“A Century of Mormon Activities in California” volume two by Leo J. Muir, published by Deseret News Press, Salt Lake City, Utah in 1952. Copyright 1952 by Leo J. Muir.
The book can be found at the Harold B. Lee Library at BYU campus, call number
BX 8677.94. M89 c vol.2. The inside cover of the book states that this book was a gift to the BYU Library by Kathryn Pardoe. The book is also autographed “Cordially Leo Muir 9/24 ‘52”
Five paragraphs about Elsie begin on page 95.
BARRETT, Elsie E. Turley: b. December 14, 1866, Minersville, Utah. Fa. Joseph Turley, b. 1845, Nauvoo, Illinois. Mo. Elizabeth Lightener, b. in Wisconsin in 1849.
In her late childhood she was taken with her parents to Beaver, Utah, and later to Frisco, a near-by mining camp. While her parents resided in Frisco, she was sent to a Catholic boarding school in Salt Lake City during the ages of 15 and 16. Here she studied art under a French nun, voice under an Irish nun, and piano under an Italian nun.
Was married to William H. Barrett, May 19, 1896* Eight children were born to this union, four of whom died in infancy. Those surviving were (1) William Ernest, b. 1887, Frisco, Utah, now residing in Ogden, Utah. Married Vera Holden. They have three sons—all having been in war service. (2) Myrtle, b. in Beaver, Utah, 1891. Married Joseph Smith. They have two boys (both recently in Army service) and one girl. (3) Ronald, b. in 1899 in Ogden, Utah. Married Lillian Anderson. No children. Served twenty years on Los Angeles police force. Now lives in Oakland, California. (4) Allan, b. Provo, Utah in 1903. Is father of three children.
Elsie E. Barrett came to California in May of 1925. Has resided here since that time.
Mrs. Barrett is a gifted poet. Many of her poems have appeared in church publications. A group of Southern California women recently published a volume of her poems under the title, “Thought Blossoms”.**
The following corrections were made by Susan Barrett Ethington, February 2009:
*This year is a mistake. William and Elsie were married in 1886. I have this information written in Elsie’s own handwriting in her Temple Record book on page 25.
**The name of her book is “A Garden of Thought Blossoms”
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